Unterseeboot 255

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Unterseeboot 255 or U-255 was a German World War II Type VIIC submarine commissioned on 29 November 1941 she served with the 8. Unterseebootflottille (U-Boat Flotilla) for training, 11. Unterseebootflottille from 1 June 1942 to 31 May 1943, 13. Unterseebootflottille from 11 June to 30 November 1943, 7. Unterseebootflottille from 1 December 1943 to 1 September 1944, and 13. Unterseebootflottille from 1 March 1945 to 8 May 1945.

U-255 was one of the most successful of all U-Boats to operate in Arctic waters. U-255 completed 15 patrols, sinking 10 ships totaling 47,529 gross register tons (GRT), and one warship, and damaging one ship beyond repair totaling 7,191 GRT. U-255 shelled two Soviet wireless stations on her second patrol. U-255 was damaged by a RAF Catalina flying-boat south of Jan Meyen Island on her third patrol. During her first patrol with 13. Unterseebootflottille U-255 operated along the northern coast of Russia, and established a secret seaplane base on Novaya Zemlya and searched for ships en route to Siberia.

U-255 was transferred to 7. Unterseebootflottille and operated in the Atlantic. She was damaged in an air attack in August 1944 and was decommissioned. U-255 was repaired and conducted minelaying in April 1945. U-255 surrendered to the Royal Navy on 19 May 1945, and became one of 116 boats sunk in Operation Deadlight, being sunk by aircraft on 13 December 1945.

[edit] Commanders

• Kptlt. Reinhart Reche (November 1941 – June 1943)
• Oblt. Erich Harmas (June 1943 to August 1944)
• Oblt. Helmuth Heinrich (March 1945 to May 1945)

[edit] References

• Bishop, C. Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. Amber Books, 2006.